Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon - Solstice

Solstice (Limited Edition Turquoise Blue Vinyl)

"Most of the work was in getting the spark lit," Luther Dickinson says of assembling the all-star cast for his extraordinary new project, Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon. "It was sort of like throwing a party. Once you manage to get everybody together, you can just step back and let it all happen."

Like any good party, Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon's debut album, Solstice, comes complete with a great soundtrack and an impeccable guest list, one that boasts Amy Helm, Birds of Chicago, Amy LaVere, and Shardé Thomas among others. And like any good host, Dickinson manages to put the spotlight on his friends here, taking a step back from the microphone in order to focus his efforts behind the scenes and flex his considerable muscles as both a producer and a guitarist.

The result is an album that stands apart in Dickinson's extensive catalog, a collection that brings together some of the most captivating female voices in modern American roots music and filters each of their distinctive personalities through a singular vision of artistic community and musical exploration.

Dickinson says: "The stars aligned and the strawberry moon coincided with the 2016 summer solstice. Our recording session felt like a pot-luck dinner — a group of interesting new friends convened and marveled at what was brought to the table. 'Oh, a gut-string banjo and a clarinet? Check out this Mississippi bamboo cane fife and funky beats. Is it ok if I sing this harmony? Wow, listen to how our voices blend together...'

Versatility lies at the heart of Solstice, a wide-ranging collection that harkens back to the era of the traveling revue, when a rotating cast of entertainers would take turns fronting a house band for a series of dynamic and unpredictable performances. Capturing that brand of authentic spontaneity meant taking a very hands-off approach in the studio, and Dickinson was careful to leave space for each song to develop organically. With nearly all of the album's vocals recorded live in just one or two takes, there was no room for overthinking or second-guessing, only instinct and intuition.

Dickinson assembled the group for four days at his family's Zebra Ranch studio in Independence, Mississippi.

"It wouldn't have worked if we'd recorded all over the map at different times. We had to physically be present to share in those moments together."

The music came together and flowed organically, as did the band name. The Sisters of the Strawberry Moon passed the mic, family style, backing each other up with sympathy and empathy, enjoying their new-found chemistry. With instruments as ingredients and songs as recipes, the Sisters of the Strawberry Moon stirred up lovely new concoctions as well as fresh interpretations of family heirloom songs held dear.

"We believe music is a celebration of life and folk music an expression of community and family, and Solstice is an artifact of our new friendship and musical fellowship."

 

Side A

1. Superlover feat. Birds of Chicago

2. Fly With Me feat. Sharde Thomas

3. Hallelujah (I’m a Dreamer) feat. Amy LaVere

4. Like A Songbird That Has Fallen feat. Amy Helm

5. Kathy feat. Birds of Chicago

6. Hold To His Hand feat. The Como Mamas

Side B

1. The Night Is Still Young feat. Amy LaVere

2. Sing To Me feat. Amy Helm

3. We Made It feat. Sharde Thomas

4. Cricket (At Night I Can Fly) feat. Amy LaVere

5. Til It’s Gone feat. Birds of Chicago

6. Search Me feat. The Como Mamas

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